Basket cap for glass washing machine



BASKET CAP FOR GLASS WASHING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet lDec. 3, 1968 J. F. GALLO 3,413,672

BASKET CAP FOR GLASS WASHING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Unite States Patent O 3,413,672 BASKET CAP FR GLASS WASHING MACHINE`lohn F. Galio, 3530 19th Ave., Kenosha, Wis. 53140 Filed May 29, i967,Ser. No. 642,073 10 Claims. (Cl. 15-76) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREDisclosed herein is a cap or bumper ring for a glass washing machine ofthe type having a motor driven basket and brush assembly which is restedin a sink basin or tank partially iilled with water. The cap isconstructed of an impact resistant plastic and is in the form of anannular ring with inner, outer and intermediate concentric dependingflanges. The intermediate ilange is relatively deep as compared with theother anges and is located outside the lip or rim of the basket andextends below the rim to prevent lemon rinds, debris, etc., from gettinginto the area of the motor switch actuating arm and to prevent waterfrom overflowing the basket rim. Radial vanes or jetties located on theundersurface of the cap return the centrifugally swirling water into thecenter of the basket as it climbs to the top, The vanes deiiect theWater in the form of a series of high velocity water jets having aninwardly curved trajectory. In one embodiment, the cap is provided withupstanding tabs to mount a stationary brush which projects inwardlytoward the center of the basket and which is utilized to clean the stemof the glass.

Background of invention The present invention relates to improvementsand further developments of the subject matter disclosed in my previouspatents No. 3,204,273 and 3,315,294, and in particular to an improvedcap, guard or bumper ring for a glass washing machine.

Summary of invention The cap of the invention includes an annular topring with inner, outer and intermediate concentric depending ianges. Theouter flange is adjacent the outer margin of the top plate and the innerflange is adjacent the inner margin. The intermediate flange is spacedbetween the inner and outer shallow anges. The intermediate angeprovides a shield to prevent debris from fouling the motor switchactuating lever located adjacent the basket.

The deep ange also guides basket movement and eliminates the need forthe guide plugs disclosed in my Patent No. 3,315,294 and accordinglyaiords easy removal f the basket for cleaning purposes. The closetolerance of the deep ange to the basket wall also minimizes wateroveriiow over the basket rim.

Rotation of the basket during operation causes a centrifugal swirling ofthe water contained therein. The cap is provided with radially extendingvanes or jetties located between the deep or intermediate ange and theinner ange. The vanes create a series or plurality of high velocitywater jets which ow inwardly in a curved path or trajectory toward thecenter of the basket. This jet action assists in cleaning the stems orbases of glasses which ordinarily are not engaged by the rotatingbrushes in the basket. The water jets replace the water in the centerregion of the basket which was centrifugally removed or exhausted duringbasket rotation and thus enhance the cleaning capacity of the brushes.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cap is provided withupstanding tabs molded integrally with the annular top ring whichfacilitate the mounting of a stationary brush which extends inwardlytoward the center of the basket to engage and clean the stem or base ofa glass which is rotating with the basket. A pair of tubes or elbowsdirect a water ow on the brush.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following disclosure.

Drawings FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away side elevational View of aglass washing machine embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken away plan view of the glass washingmachine shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom perspective view of the glass washing machine capin accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View along line 4-4 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of the water ow path within the basketand cap.

Detailed description Although the disclosure hereof is detailed andexact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, thephysical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the inventionwhich may be embodied in other speciiic structure. The scope of theinvention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a glass washing machine whichis designated 15 and which, except for the cap 53 hereinafter describedin detail, can be constructed in accordance with my Patent No.3,315,294. The glass washing machine 15 is shown located in a sink orbasin 16 which has a horizontal bottom wall 17. The machine includes abase 18 having a horizontal top wall 19 and a rounded downturnedmarginal flange 20 forming an open bottom chamber 21. The bottom wall 17is provided with suction cups 23 to secure the washing machine to thebottom wall of the sink, thus to rmly support the base 18. The base 18includes an upstanding embossment 24 which receives a tubular column orpost 25 which encloses a drive shaft 26 driven by a motor and drivetrain located within a motor housing 27.

The glass washing machine has rotary brushing means which include anopen topped cup-like member or basket 28 which has an apertured bottomwall 31 from which upstands a central tubular hub or sleeve 32 and aconcentric outer wall 33. The tubular hub or sleeve 32 surrounds a shaft34. Rotation of the basket by the motor in housing 27 is aiiorder bypulleys 35 and 36 respectively located on the shafts 26, 34 and a belt37 -reeved in the pulleys.

The basket 28 also includes three outside glass cleaning brushes 41which can be detachably mounted on the basket vwall 33 in accordancewith the disclosure in my Patent 3,315,294. The hub 32 also supports acentral interior cleaning brush 42.

The basket 28 is surrounded by a concentric cylindrical and stationaryopen-topped outer casing or shell 43 which is supported ton the base 18and secured to embossment 24 by a screw 44.

The motor is actuated by a switch (not shown) located within the motorhousing 27. The switch is actuated by a switch actuating rod 45 whichextends longitudinally within the interior of tubular post 25. The rod45 has a laterally bent lower end 46 which extends through a shortvertical slot 47 in the post 25 and is threaded to receive a sleeve nut48 which carries thereon a follower or nylon roller 51. The roller 51rides on the upper surface of a peripheral ange 52 which extendsoutwardly from the side wall 33 of the basket 2S. The basket is normallybiased or urged upwardly under pressure of a coil spring (not shown)located within hub 32 to maintain the switch actuating rod 45 in araised position and the motor switch in a normally open condition whenthe machine is not in use. The motor switch is actuated by insertion ofa glass over the central brush 42 and depressing the basket slightly bydownward pressure permitting the switch rod 45 to descend slightly andallow the switch to assume its closed position and energize the motor.Problems have been encountered in preventing fouling of the switchactuating rod 45 and the roller 48 by debris.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a basket cap, lorbumper ring which is designated generally 53 and which is desirablyinjection molded of a high resistant plastic such as polypropylene. Thecap includes an annular top ring S4 which has an undersurface 55 andconcentric inner, outer and intermediate depending anges respectively56, 57 and 58. The inner ange 56 forms the inner margin of the cap 53and is rounded to form a smooth throat 59 or entrance to the basket. Theouter depending flange is adjacent the outer margin of the top plate 54and is located exteriorly of the shell or casing 43 and frictionally tswith the upper edge 61 of the shell to secure the cap in place. Theintermediate ange 58 is relatively deep as compared with the inner andouter anges 56, 57 and is located exteri'orly of the basket wall 33 andextends downwardly to a position overlapping the top margin of thebasket and slightly above the peripheral switch actuating ange 52. Theintermediate flange 58 serves as a guide or support for the upper edgeof the basket for guiding basket rotation and preventing lateraldisplacement of the basket as a glass is urged against the side cleaningbrushes 41. The deep flange accordingly obviates the need for thecylindrical plugs disclosed in my Patent No. 3,315,294, thus affordingeasy basket removal for cleaning purposes.

The intermediate deep flange 58 is provided with a notch 62 whichreceives the nylon roller 51 thereby permitting the ange 58 to extenddownwardly to the lower edge 63 of the roller. Thus, the deepintermediate flange 58 functions as a shield to prevent solids or otherparticles removed from the glass from traveling into the area of thenylon roller or peripheral ange 52 to cause accidental actuation orfouling of the motor switch. The deep flange also minimizes outow of thewater over the basket rim 65 as hereinafter described.

To direct the centrifugally swirling water toward the center of thebasket and to enhance the cleaning capability of the washing machine ashereinafter described, the cap 53 is provided with a series ofsubstantially radially disposed jetties or vanes 70 (FIGS. 3, 4). Thevanes 70 are spaced circumferentially around top plate 54 and extendradially inwardly toward the axis of rotation `of basket 28. i

The vanes 70 can depend from the undersurface 55 as shown in FIGURE 3 orthey can extend from flange 58 and be spaced slightly from undersurface55.

To secure the cap 53 against angular displacement relative to the outercasing 43 and to assist in aligning the notch 62 around the nylon roller51, the `outer flange 57 is provided with two spaced and outwardlyprojecting ears 68 which form an intermediate gap or notch 69 whichreceives the tubular post 25.

When the glass washing machine is in use it is normally operated in asink basin 16 with the water level 71 slightly beneath the cap 53 asshown in FIGURE 1. Water flows into the basket from the sink basinthrough the apertured basket bottom wall 31. When the motor is actuatedby inserting a glass and depressing the basket, the rotating baskettogether with the side brushes located in the basket causes acentrifugal swirl 66, as shown in FIGURE 6, of the water in the basket.Since the basket is rotating at speeds between 250 and 300 revolutionsper minute, the centrifugal forces involved cause the water to climb thewall 33 to the basket 28 until the water reaches the undersurface 55 ofthe cap 53. The deep intermediate flange 58 minimizes outow of waterover the basket rim 65, as shown in FIGURE 4. The centrifugallypressurized and swirling water climbing the .basket wall impinges on thesides of the stationary vanes 70. The vanes 70 act as water baffles todeflect the water radially inwardly and create a plurality of radialwater jets 73 as shown in FIGURE 5, FIGURE 6 to assist in cleaning thebase or stem of the glass 72. The jets 73 may merge laterally to form acontinuous funnel-shaped web or umbrella of water pouring onto thecentral zone of the basket.

Rotation of the basket 28 also causes a vortex around the central brush42. The water jets replace the water which is centrifugally exhaustedfrom the region surrounding the central brush by basket rotation. Thus,the return of water in the form of high velocity water jets to theregion surrounding the central brush continuously wets down the brushes,flushes dirt from the glass and brushes and enhances and promotes thecleaning action of the brushes on the glass.

In a further embodiment of the cap 53 of :the invention as shown inFIGURE 5, the cap 53 is provided with two upstanding brackets 77integrally molded to the cap to serve as mounting supports for a xedbrush 78. The brush 78 projects inwardly toward the center of the basketand cleans the base or stem of a glass 72 when the glass 72 is partiallyreleased from the grip of the operator and permitted to rotate with thebasket 28. The cap 53 also includes two upstanding hollow tubes orelbows 79 which extend through the top plate 54 of the cap 53 andreceive centrifugally pressurized water from beneath the cap 53 anddirect the water over and on the brush 78.

I claim:

1. In a glass washing machine having a rotary basket with brushestherein, a stationary cap at the top of the basket and a motor forrotating said basket and causing a centrifugal upward swirl of the watercontained in said basket when said motor is energized, the improvementin which said cap comprises an annular top ring having an undersurfaceand inner and outer edges, concentric outer and intermediate angesdepending from said top ring, said outer ange depending from said outermargin, said intermediate flange extending below the upper margin ofsaid basket and spaced radially from said basket so as to guide basketrotation, and a series of circumferentially spaced radially extendingvanes depending from said top ring and located between said intermediateand inner anges and disposed to deect the swirling water in said basketinwardly in the form of water jets which return the water toward thecenter of the basket.

2. In a glass washing machine having a rotary basket with brushestherein, a stationary cap at the top of the basket and a motor forrotating said basket and causing a centrifugal upward swirl of the watercontained in said basket when said motor is energized, the improvementin which said cap comprises a series of circumferentially spacedradially extending vanes disposed to deflect the swirling water in saidbasket inwardly in the form of water jets which return the water towardthe center of the basket, and wherein said cap has two upstanding spacedapart ears, and a stationary brush removably secured to said ears, saidbrush projecting inwardly toward the center of said basket.

3. The improvement of claim 2 including a Water supply tube for saidbrush, said tube having an inlet beneath said top plate and an outletabove said stationary brush.

4. A cap for a glass washing machine having an outer casing and arotating basket therewithin, said cap being mounted on said casing andcomprising an annular top ring having an undersurface and inner andouter margins and concentric inner, intermediate and outer angesdepending from said top ring, said inner and outer flanges beingrelatively shallow and said intermediate ange being spaced between saidinner and outer flanges and being relatively deep and disposedexteriorly of said basket and overlapping the upper margin of the basketto guide basket rotation.

5. A cap in accordance with claim 4 including two upstanding spacedapart ears, and a stationary brush removably secured to said ears, saidbrush projecting inwardly toward the center of said ring.

6. A cap in accordance with claim 4 including a series ofcircumferentially spaced radially extending vanes, said vanes beinglocated between the intermediate ange and the inner ange.

7. A cap in accordance with claim 6 in combination with a glass Washingmachine having a rotatable basket and a stationary cylindrical casingconcentrically surrounding said basket and wherein said outer flange ofsaid cap frictionally engages said casing and said intermediate angeextends between said casing and said basket.

8. In a glass washing machine having a base, rotary brushing meansprojecting above and rotatably mounted on said base and including adepressible basket having a cylindrical wall with an exterior peripheraltiange at its upper portion, a stationary cylindrical open-topped casingconcentrically surrounding said basket and fixed to said base,basket-driving means including an electric motor, motor controllingswitch means including a follower riding on said ange to be actuatedupon depression of said basket, and spacing means carried by said casingand interposed between said casing and basket above said flange to limitlateral detiection of said basket, the irnprovement in which saidspacing means comprises a cap having an inner edge and outer andintermediate depending concentric flanges, said outer flangefrictionally engaging said casing, and said intermediate ange extendingbetween the basket and said casing to minimize overow of water anddebn's from said basket and to guide basket rotation.

9. The improvement of claim 8 including a series of circumferentiallyspaced radially extending vanes located between said intermediate angeand said inner margin of said cap.

10. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said motor is supported by atubular column upstanding from said base, said outer Harige havingoutwardly projecting ears which form a notch embracing said tubularcolumn.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,486 2/1939 Markwood 15-763,204,273 9/1965 Gallo 15-76 3,286,291 11/1966 Linne 15-76 3,315,2944/1967 Gallo 1576 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Pri/nazy Examiner. R. SMITH,Assistant Examiner.

